On March 29, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis. Chaired by Governor Chris Christie, the Commission was formed to, “study ways to combat and treat the scourge of drug abuse, addiction, and the opioid crisis, which was responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in 2015 and has caused families and communities across America to endure significant pain and suffering.”

The Commission released its report last month with specific recommendations, many of which now fall to Congress, federal departments, and local governments to fund and implement.

Annapolis Coalition Board Member and Substance Use Lead Michael Flaherty, PhD, shares his analysis of the recently released report on drug addiction and the opioid crisis from The President’s Commission. An expert in the area of substance use disorders, Dr. Flaherty is a clinical psychologist and co-founder of the Institute for Research, Education and Training in the Addictions (IRETA).

Read Dr. Flaherty’s analysis here.

Read the full report from The President’s Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis here.